'''Fornost Erain''' ([[Sindarin]] 'Northern-fortress of the Kings' from ''for(n)'' (north) + ''ost'' (fortress); "Norbury of the Kings" in [[Westron]]) was a city of [[Eriador]] in the north of [[Middle-earth]]. It was located at the south end of the North Downs, about 100 [[Númenórean]] miles north of [[Bree]]; after Fornost Erain was abandoned, the site became known as '''Deadman's Dike''', visited only by Rangers. At the time when ''The Lord of The Rings'' is set, Fornost had been abandoned for "nearly a thousand years, and even the ruins of Kings' Norbury were covered with grass".

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{{location

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| image=[[Image:Fornost rotwk.JPG|250px]]

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| name=Fornost Erain

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| othernames=Deadmen's Dike, Norbury of the Kings

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| etymology="Northern Fortress (of the) Kings"

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| type=City/Fortress

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| location=[[North Downs]]

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| inhabitants=[[Dúnedain]]

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| realms=[[Arnor]]<br/>[[Arthedain]]<br/>[[Reunited Kingdom]]

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| description=

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| events=[[Fall of Fornost]]

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| references=

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}}{{Pronounce|Fornost.mp3|Ardamir}}

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It is not known when Fornost was founded or when the kings of [[Arnor]] moved there from [[Annúminas]], but it is known that the kings moved to Fornost some time before [[Third Age|T.A.]] 861, when King [[Eärendur]] died, and Arnor was divided into three kingdoms with Fornost the capital of the greatest kingdom, [[Arthedain]].

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{{quote|Deadmen's Dike, you say. So it has been called for long years; but its right name, [[Barliman Butterbur|Barliman]], is '''Fornost Erain''', Norbury of the Kings.|[[Gandalf]]<ref name="Bound">{{RK|VI7}}</ref>}}

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In T.A. 1974, Arthedain was overrun by the forces of [[Angmar]], they captured Fornost, and King [[Arvedui]] fled into the northern wastes and was lost in the Ice Bay of [[Forochel]]. In the following year, a fleet from [[Gondor]] led by [[Eärnur]] landed at [[Mithlond]], fought the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] in the plains west of Fornost, and defeated him and his armies, although the Witch-king himself escaped.

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'''Fornost Erain''' was the capital of [[Arthedain]]. It was located at the south end of the North Downs, about 100 [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] miles north of [[Bree]], at the northern terminus of the [[North-South Road]].<ref>{{FR|Map}}</ref>

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After King Elessar reunited the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor, he had the city rebuilt and made a great city where Men dwelt once again.

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==History==

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===Early history===

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It is not known when Fornost was founded, although this most probably occurred after the establishment of the realm of [[Arnor]] in {{SA|3320}}<ref>{{App|SA}}</ref> since there is no record of the Númenóreans penetrating so far north before the Downfall of Númenor. The city did exist at the beginning of the [[Third Age]] for after the fall of [[Sauron]] the Army of Arnor marched west through the [[Fords of Isen]] and continued north to Fornost.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}</ref>

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[[Category:Cities in Eriador]]

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It is also unknown exactly when the kings of [[Arnor]] moved there from [[Annúminas]]. In {{TA|861}}, when King [[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]] died, Arnor was divided into three kingdoms.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> The capital of the new realm of [[Arthedain]] may have been moved immediately to Fornost, but may have lingered for some time in [[Annuminas]]. In {{TA|1409|n}}, when the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]] took the [[Tower of Amon Sûl]], the ''[[Amon Sûl-stone|palantír]]'' was saved and carried back to Fornost.<ref name="Eriador">{{App|Eriador}}</ref>

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===Fall===

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:''Main article: [[Fall of Fornost]]

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In {{TA|1974}}, Arthedain was overrun by the forces of [[Angmar]]. Fornost was captured, and King [[Arvedui]] fled into the northern wastes and was lost in the [[Icebay of Forochel]] with the two palantirs he had saved from the forces of [[Angmar]]. In the following year, a fleet of ships from [[Gondor]], led by [[Eärnur]], landed at [[Mithlond]]. The Elves of [[Lindon]], led by [[Círdan]], joined the forces of [[Gondor]], the remaining [[Dúnedain of the North]] came, and so did a few archers from the Shire. Eärnur fought the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]] in the plains west of Fornost and defeated the armies of Angmar, but the Witch-king himself escaped.<ref name="Eriador"/>

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===Deadmen's Dike===

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After Fornost Erain was abandoned, the inhabitants of the nearest settlement, [[Bree]], referred to it as '''Deadmen's Dike''', and did not come there. Only [[Dúnedain of the North|Rangers]] came there from time to time, but no-one knew what they did there.<ref>{{FR|I10}}</ref>

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After [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] reunited [[Reunited Kingdom|the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor]], he had the city rebuilt and made a great city where Men dwelt once again.<ref name="Bound"/>

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==Etymology==

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Fornost Erain is [[Sindarin]]. It means "Northern Fortress (of the) Kings"; from ''forn'' "north" and ''[[ost]]'' "fortress", and ''erain'' is the plural of ''[[aran]]''. The ''Fornost'' component is a direct cognate to [[Quenya]] ''[[Formenos]]''.

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It was translated as "Norbury of the Kings" (from supposedly [[Old English]] ''norð-burg''<ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 774 (entry ''Norbury'')</ref>), which represents its [[Westron]] name.

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== Portrayal in Adaptations ==

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{{Gallery

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|title=Pictures of adaptations of Fornost

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|height=150

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|width=200

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|lines=2

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|File:Fornost rotwk.JPG|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king|The Battle for Middle-earth II: Rise of the Witch-king]]''

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|File:The Lord of the Rings War in the North - Fornost.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''

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}}

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'''2006: ''[[The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king]]'':'''

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:In the expansion pack, ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king|The Rise of the Witch-king]]'', Fornost is besieged by the forces of the Witch-king.

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'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''

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:Fornost Erain is simply called Fornost and is located in the northern end of the [[North Downs]]. It is populated with wights, orcs and wargs.

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'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''

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:The first chapter of the game is centered around Fornost. Agandaûr has assembled an army of [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] in Fornost, and prepared to attack the [[Free Peoples]].<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref> [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]], [[Andriel]] and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] infiltrate Fornost on [[Aragorn]]'s orders. They free the captured [[Eagles|Eagle]], [[Belarum]],<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost, ''Main Gate''</ref> and work together with [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] to stop Agandaûr.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost, ''Inner Wards''</ref> Agandaûr flees and [[Tharzog]] - leader of the [[Orcs]] - is killed. After which the Orcs remain leaderless and inter factional fighting starts, hereby preventing an attack.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost, ''Citadel Tower''</ref>

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:Visitable locations are the Main Gate, the Battlements, the Inner and Outer wards and the Citadel.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost</ref>

Contents

History

Early history

It is not known when Fornost was founded, although this most probably occurred after the establishment of the realm of Arnor in S.A.3320[3] since there is no record of the Númenóreans penetrating so far north before the Downfall of Númenor. The city did exist at the beginning of the Third Age for after the fall of Sauron the Army of Arnor marched west through the Fords of Isen and continued north to Fornost.[4]

Deadmen's Dike

After Fornost Erain was abandoned, the inhabitants of the nearest settlement, Bree, referred to it as Deadmen's Dike, and did not come there. Only Rangers came there from time to time, but no-one knew what they did there.[7]

Etymology

Fornost Erain is Sindarin. It means "Northern Fortress (of the) Kings"; from forn "north" and ost "fortress", and erain is the plural of aran. The Fornost component is a direct cognate to QuenyaFormenos.

It was translated as "Norbury of the Kings" (from supposedly Old Englishnorð-burg[8]), which represents its Westron name.